THE SLOW-BURNER technique worked for both Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy. After relatively quiet opening rounds in the $8.5 million WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Akron in Ohio, the two Ulster men contrived to each produce 67s in their respective second rounds to move up the leaderboard in pursuit of midway leader Jim Furyk.

McDowell and McIlroy reached the midpoint of the megabucks event – the final fine-tuner for next week’s US PGA at Kiawah Island – on the 137 mark (three-under-par) which left them inside the top-15 but all of eight shots adrift of Furyk, who is attempting to nail down his spot on the US Ryder Cup team.

“I’m a bit wishy-washy with my thoughts in that I’ve got five different ways of doing the same thing and I just need to pick one and stick with it,” remarked McDowell, who has contended in both the US Open and British Opens and admitted to feeling a bit “flat” coming into this week’s event ahead of the season’s final Major in South Carolina.

McDowell, despite bogeying his final two holes, claimed he found “a couple of things on the course” as he looked forward to the final two rounds. “You can lose sight of the fact that we play for a lot of money this week.

“It’s a very prestigious event. Because it’s sort of sandwiched in between the last two Majors of the year, it’s very hard not to have one eye on next week.

“That’s why the key (to the Bridgestone) is to try and get on board Thursday and Friday because very quickly it just becomes a dress rehearsal for next week.

“It’s a prestigious event, this one. You don’t want to forget that.”

McIlroy’s philosophy heading into the final two rounds was a simple one.

“To just keep improving and keep improving on my score. If I can get lower for the next two days, I won’t be far off,” said the world number three.

Furyk, though, remained the man to catch. The American earned a two stroke lead over Spain’s Raphael Cabrera Bella with Louis Oosthuizen a further shot back.

“Ive played this golf course so many times and for so many years, I feel pretty comfortable out here,” admitted Furyk, who has bounced back from a missed cut in last week’s Canadian Open.

Tiger Woods struggled to a 72 for 142 which left him in a share of 44th position with two rounds to go.

“I get in these little spells where its hot or cold. Generally I was a decent putter over the years, but lately its been very streaky, Im making everything or I make nothing,” lamented Woods after another poor day putting on the greens.

Michael Hoey again struggled in his debut appearance in the Bridgestone, adding a second round 75 to his opening 78 to reach the midway stage with only England’s Tom Lewis behind him.

With no cut in the limited field event, at least Hoey could look to two further rounds over the weekend to help get his rhythm back ahead of accepting an invite in to next week’s PGA.

Meanwhile, Pádraig Harrington – who failed to get into Akron – showed good form in the Reno-Tahoe Open where, in the modified stableford format, he shot added a second consecutive seven points for a midway total of 14 which left him inside the top-20 heading into the weekend.

Harrington has been paired with Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III for the first two rounds of next week’s USPGA.